Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a substrate having a display area including pixels disposed in a matrix form, and a peripheral area; a gate line and a data line on the substrate and insulated from each other; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a passivation layer; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor through a contact hole of the passivation layer; and a color filter overlapped with the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode. The passivation layer is between the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode. The color filter includes an opening overlapping the contact hole. A center of the opening is on a virtual center line of one pixel, and a center of the contact hole is on one side of the virtual center line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0102625 filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Aug. 30, 2018, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of the most widely used flat paneldisplays. Liquid crystal displays include two display panels in which afield generating electrode such as a pixel electrode or a commonelectrode is formed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween.In the liquid crystal layer, voltages are applied to the fieldgenerating electrodes to generate an electric field in the liquidcrystal layer. Then, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules of theliquid crystal layer is determined by the electric field to control thepolarization of incident light, thereby displaying images.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background of the invention andtherefore it may contain information that does not form the prior artthat is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill inthe art.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments have been made in an effort to provide a displaydevice which has a relatively simple manufacturing process compared torelated art devices and in which it is relatively easy to design a dummycolor filter.

A display device according to one embodiment of the present disclosureincludes a substrate having a display area including pixels in a matrixform, and a peripheral area; a gate line and a data line on thesubstrate and insulated from each other; a thin film transistorconnected to the gate line and the data line; a passivation layer; apixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor through a contacthole of the passivation layer; and a color filter overlapping the thinfilm transistor and the pixel electrode. The passivation layer isbetween the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode. The colorfilter includes an opening overlapping the contact hole. A center of theopening is on a virtual center line of one pixel, and a center of thecontact hole is on one side of the virtual center line.

The virtual center line may extend along a direction in which the dataline extends.

The opening of the color filter may have a symmetrical shape in a planview with respect to the virtual center line.

An area of the contact hole in a plan view may be smaller than an areaof the contact hole in a plan view.

A width of the opening may be greater than a width of the contact hole.

The center of the opening may be aligned with the center of the contacthole.

The display device may further include a storage electrode line at asame layer as the gate line, and the storage electrode line may includea protrusion overlapping the contact hole in a plan view.

The storage electrode line may include a horizontal portion extendingparallel to the gate line, and the protrusion may protrude from thehorizontal portion.

The protrusion may overlap the opening.

The display device may further include a shielding electrode at a samelayer as the pixel electrode.

The shielding electrode may extend along a direction in which the gateline extends.

A display device according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure includes a substrate having a display area includingpixels arranged in a matrix form, and a peripheral area; a gate line anda data line on the substrate and insulated from each other; a thin filmtransistor connected to the gate line and the data line; an organiclayer; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor through acontact hole of the organic layer; and a color filter overlapping thethin film transistor and the pixel electrode. The organic layer isbetween the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode. The colorfilter includes an opening overlapping the contact hole, and a center ofthe opening is not aligned with a center of the contact hole.

The organic layer may be between the color filter and the pixelelectrode.

The display device may further include a dummy color filter in theperipheral area.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it ispossible to provide a display device that is manufactured through asimple process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a display device according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of a pixel of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-Ill′FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV′ ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of a pixel according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top plan view of a passivation layer according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a top plan view of a color filter according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of an organic layer according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic top plan view of a peripheral area and adisplay area according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a top plan view of a display device according to acomparative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure are shown. As those skilled in the art wouldrealize, the described embodiments may be modified in various differentways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentdisclosure.

To clearly describe the embodiments of the present disclosure, partsthat are irrelevant to the description are omitted, and like numeralsrefer to like or similar constituent elements throughout thespecification.

Further, since sizes and thicknesses of constituent members shown in theaccompanying drawings are arbitrarily given for better understanding andease of description, the present disclosure is not limited to theillustrated sizes and thicknesses. In the drawings, the thicknesses oflayers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Inthe drawings, for better understanding and ease of description, thethicknesses of some layers and areas are exaggerated.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film,region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, itcan be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyon” another element, there are no intervening elements present. Further,the word “over” or “on” means positioning on or below the objectportion, and does not necessarily mean positioning on the upper side ofthe object portion based on a gravity direction.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word“comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will beunderstood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not theexclusion of any other elements.

Further, in the specification, the phrase “in a plan view” means when anobject portion is viewed from above, and the phrase “in across-sectional view” means when a cross-section taken by verticallycutting an object portion is viewed from the side.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. FIG. 1 illustrates a topplan view of a, display device according to an exemplary embodiment,FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of a pixel of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 3 illustrates across-sectional view taken along a line FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 illustrates across-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV′ of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a display device 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment includes a display area DA in which a plurality of pixels PXare disposed in a matrix form along a first direction D1 and a seconddirection D2, and a peripheral area PA disposed at an edge surroundingthe display area DA.

One pixel PX of a plurality of pixels PX disposed in the display areawill now be described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. The displaydevice according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a lowerdisplay panel 100 and an upper display panel 200 which face each other,and a liquid crystal layer 3 disposed between the lower display panel100 and the upper display panel 200.

First, the lower display panel 100 will be described.

A gate conductor including a first gate line 121 and storage electrodelines 131 a and 131 b is disposed on a first substrate 110 made oftransparent glass or plastic.

The gate line 121 includes a first gate electrode 124 a, a second gateelectrode 124 b, a third gate electrode 124 c, and a wide end portion(not shown) for connection to another layer or an external drivingcircuit.

The gate line 121 and the storage electrode lines 131 a and 131 b may bemade of an aluminum-based metal such as aluminum (Al) or an aluminumalloy, a silver-based metal such as silver (Ag) or a silver alloy, acopper-based metal such as copper (Cu) or a copper alloy, amolybdenum-based metal such as molybdenum (Mo) or a molybdenum alloy,chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), and titanium (Ti). The gate line 121 andthe storage electrode lines 131 a and 131 b may have a multilayeredstructure including at least two conductive layers having differentphysical properties.

The gate line 121 traverses one pixel along the first direction D1. Afirst subpixel electrode 191 a indicating a high gray is disposed in adirection +D2 relative to the gate line 121, and a second subpixelelectrode 191 b indicating a low gray is disposed in a direction −D2relative to the gate line 121, and vice versa.

The storage electrode lines 131 a and 131 b may be made of a samematerial as the gate line 121, and may be formed by a simultaneousprocess with the gate line 121.

The first storage electrode line 131 a disposed at an upper side of thegate line 121 may overlap an edge of the first subpixel electrode 191 a.The first storage electrode line 131 a may include two vertical portions134 a, and a horizontal portion 135 a that connects the verticalportions 134 a. In one embodiment, the horizontal portion 135 a of thefirst storage electrode line 131 a may extend beyond one pixel area tobe connected to another layer or an external driving circuit.

The second storage electrode line 131 b disposed at a lower side of thegate line 121 may overlap an edge of the second subpixel electrode 191b. The second storage electrode line 131 b may include two verticalportions 134 b, and a horizontal portion 135 b that connects thevertical portions 134 a.

In addition, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the firststorage electrode line 131 a may include a first protrusion 137 a, andthe second storage electrode line 131 b may include a second protrusion137 b. Each of the first protrusion 137 a and the second protrusion 137b may prevent or at least mitigate against a light leakage phenomenon.

Each of the first protrusion 137 a and the second protrusion 137 b mayhave a quadrangular shape protruding from the horizontal portions 135 aand 135 b in a plan view, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. Each of the first protrusion 137 a and the second protrusion137 b may have any form for blocking a region where a light leakagephenomenon may occur.

The first protrusion 137 a may overlap a contact hole 185 a of apassivation layer 180 to be described later, an opening 230 a of a colorfilter 230, and a contact hole 240 a of an organic layer 240.

The first protrusion 137 a may overlap an extended region of the firstdrain electrode 175 a and an extended region of the first subpixelelectrode 191 a. The first protrusion 137 a may overlap the first drainelectrode 175 a and the first subpixel electrode 191 a.

The second protrusion 137 b may overlap a contact hole 185 b of thepassivation layer 180 to be described later, an opening 230 b of thecolor filter 230, and a contact hole 240 b of the organic layer 240.

The second protrusion 137 b may overlap an extended region of the seconddrain electrode 175 b and an extended region of the second subpixelelectrode 191 b. The second protrusion 137 b may overlap the seconddrain electrode 175 b and the second subpixel electrode 191 b.

Although this specification describes and illustrates the shape of thestorage electrode lines 131 a and 131 b as described above, it is notlimited to such a shape, and may have any shape for performing the sameor similar function.

A gate insulating layer 140 is disposed on the gate conductor. The gateinsulating layer 140 may be made of an inorganic insulating layermaterial such as a silicon nitride or a silicon oxide, but may be madeof an organic insulator material without being limited thereto.

A first semiconductor layer 154 a, a second semiconductor layer 154 b,and a third semiconductor layer 154 c are disposed on the gateinsulating layer 140.

A data conductor including a data line 171, a first source electrode 173a, a second source electrode 173 b, a third source electrode 173 c, afirst drain electrode 175 a, a second drain electrode 175 b, a thirddrain electrode 175 c, and a divided reference voltage line 178 aredisposed on the gate insulating layer 140, the first semiconductor layer154 a, the second semiconductor layer 154 b, and the third semiconductorlayer 154 c.

The data line 171 extends in the direction D2 along an edge of one pixelarea, and includes the first source electrode 173 a and the secondsource electrode 173 b.

The first drain electrode 175 a overlaps the first source electrode 173a along the direction D1 in a plan view, and may have an I-shapeoverlapping the first source electrode 173 a. The first drain electrode175 a includes a wide extended region connected to the first subpixelelectrode 191 a.

The second drain electrode 175 b overlaps the second source electrode173 b along the direction D1 in a plan view, and may have an I-shapeoverlapping the second source electrode 173 b. The second drainelectrode 175 b includes a wide extended region connected to the secondsubpixel electrode 191 b.

The third source electrode 173 c may be disposed adjacent to the seconddrain electrode 175 b. The third source electrode 173 c may be a regionextending from the second drain electrode 175 b.

The divided reference voltage line 178 includes the third drainelectrode 175 c. The third drain electrode 175 c may constitute a thinfilm transistor together with the third source electrode 173 c.

The divided reference voltage line 178 includes a plurality of verticalportions 172 a, 172 b, and 172 c, and horizontal portions 174 a and 174b connecting the vertical portions 172 a, 172 b, and 172 c.

The first vertical portion 172 a included in the divided referencevoltage line 178 may overlap a first vertical stem 193 a of the firstsubpixel electrode 191 a. The second vertical portion 172 b may overlapa second vertical stem 193 b of the second subpixel electrode 191 b. Thethird vertical portion 172 c included in the divided reference voltageline 178 may also traverse a region disposed between a region in whichthe first subpixel electrode 191 a is disposed and a region in which thesecond subpixel electrode 191 b is disposed.

The divided reference voltage line 178 may include the first horizontalportion 174 a connecting the first vertical portion 172 a and the thirdvertical portion 172 c and the second horizontal portion 174 bconnecting the second vertical portion 172 b and the third verticalportion 172 c.

The first horizontal portion 174 a may overlap the first subpixelelectrode 191 a, and the second horizontal portion 174 b may overlap thesecond subpixel electrode 191 b. However, the first horizontal portion174 a and the second horizontal portion 174 b may be disposed in aregion that does not overlap with the first subpixel electrode 191 a andthe second subpixel electrode 191 b and the present disclosure is notlimited to any particular shapes.

The above-described reference voltage line 178 may have a shapecorresponding to the shape of the pixel electrode 191, and the shape ofthe pixel electrode 191 may be varied, thereby changing the shape of thevoltage reference line 178.

A portion of the divided reference voltage line 178 disposed in theregion overlapping the third semiconductor layer 154 c may serve as thethird drain electrode 175 c.

The first gate electrode 124 a, the first source electrode 173 a, andthe first drain electrode 175 a constitute one first thin filmtransistor (TFT) together with the first semiconductor layer 154 a, anda channel of the first thin film transistor is formed in the firstsemiconductor layer 154 a between the first source electrode 173 a andthe first drain electrode 175 a. The second gate electrode 124 b, thesecond source electrode 173 b, and the second drain electrode 175 bconstitute one second thin film transistor together with the secondsemiconductor layer 154 b, and a channel thereof is formed in the secondsemiconductor layer 154 b between the second source electrode 173 b andthe second drain electrode 175 b. The third gate electrode 124 c, thethird source electrode 173 c, and the third drain electrode 175 cconstitute one third thin film transistor together with the thirdsemiconductor layer 154 c, and a channel thereof is formed in the thirdsemiconductor layer 154 c disposed between the third source electrode173 c and the third drain electrode 175 c.

The passivation layer 180 is disposed in the data conductor and theexposed semiconductor layers 154 a, 154 b, and 154 c.

The passivation layer 180 may be made of an inorganic insulating filmmaterial such as a silicon nitride or a silicon oxide. When the colorfilter 230 is disposed in the passivation layer 180, the passivationlayer 180 may prevent pigment of the color filter 230 from flowing intothe exposed semiconductor layers 154 a, 154 b, and 154 c.

The passivation layer 180 may include the first contact hole 185 a andthe second contact hole 185 b. The first contact hole 185 a may overlapthe first drain electrode 175 a and the first subpixel electrode 191 a.The second contact hole 185 b may overlap the second drain electrode 175b and the second subpixel electrode 191 b.

The color filter 230 is disposed on the passivation layer 180 and mayuniquely display one of primary colors, and the primary colors may be,for example, three primary colors such as red, green, and blue, oryellow, cyan, and magenta, and the like. Although not illustrated, acolor filter for displaying mixed colors of the primary colors or white,as well as the primary colors, may be further included.

Hereinafter, an opening included in the color filter 230 will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8.

The organic layer 240 is disposed on the color filter 230. The organiclayer 240 may flatten a surface on which a pixel electrode 191 describedlater is disposed.

The organic layer 240 includes the third contact hole 240 a and thefourth contact hole 240 b. The third contact hole 240 a may be alignedwith the first contact hole 185 a included in the passivation layer 180.The fourth contact hole 240 b may be aligned with the second contacthole 185 b included in the passivation layer 180.

The first drain electrode 175 a and the first subpixel electrode 191 amay be connected through the first contact hole 185 a and the thirdcontact hole 240 a. The second drain electrode 175 b and the secondsubpixel electrode 191 b may be connected through the second contacthole 185 b and the fourth contact hole 240 b.

The pixel electrode 191 is disposed on the color filter 230. The pixelelectrode 191 includes the first subpixel electrode 191 a and the secondsubpixel electrode 191 b which are spaced apart from each other with thegate line 121 therebetween and are adjacent to each other along thedirection D2.

The pixel electrode 191 may be made of a transparent material such asITO and IZO. The pixel electrode 191 may be made of a transparentconductive material such as ITO or IZO, or a reflective metal such asaluminum, silver, chromium, or an alloy thereof.

Shielding electrodes 197 a and 197 b made of a same material as thepixel electrode 191 are disposed on a same layer as the pixel electrode191, on the color filter 230. The pixel electrodes 191 and the shieldingelectrodes 197 a and 197 b may be formed simultaneously in a sameprocess.

The first subpixel electrode 191 a has a first horizontal stem 192 aextending in the direction D1, the first vertical stem 193 a that isorthogonal to the first horizontal stem 192 a and extends in thedirection D2, and a plurality of first minute branches 194 a that extendin a diagonal direction from the first vertical stem 193 a. A minuteslit from which an electrode is removed may be disposed between adjacentfirst minute branches 194 a.

An acute angle formed by the first minute branches 194 a with respect tothe first horizontal stem 192 a or the first vertical stem 193 a may bein a range of about 40° to about 45°, but is not limited thereto, andmay be appropriately adjusted based on consideration of displaycharacteristics, such as visibility of a liquid crystal display.

The first subpixel electrode 191 a includes a wide region extending froma portion of the first minute branches 194 a, and may be connected tothe first drain electrode 175 a through the wide region.

The second subpixel electrode 191 b has a second horizontal stem 192 bextending in the direction D1, the second vertical stem 193 b that isorthogonal to the second horizontal stem 192 b and extends in thedirection D2, and a plurality of second minute branches 194 b thatextend in a diagonal direction from the first vertical stem 193 a. Aminute slit from which an electrode is removed may be disposed betweenadjacent second minute branches 194 b.

An acute angle formed by the second minute branches 194 b with respectto the second horizontal stem 192 b or the second vertical stem 193 bmay be in a range of about 40° to about 45°, but is not limited thereto,and may be appropriately adjusted based on consideration of displaycharacteristics, such as visibility of a liquid crystal display.

The second subpixel electrode 191 b includes a wide region extended froma portion of the second minute branches 194 b, and may be connected tothe second drain electrode 175 b through the wide region.

The shielding electrodes 197 a and 197 b may be disposed between thefirst subpixel electrode 191 a and the second subpixel electrode 191 b,and may have a shape that extends along the direction D1. Their shapeand position are not limited thereto.

The shielding electrodes 197 a and 197 b receive a same voltage as acommon electrode 270 (see FIG. 3). No electric field is generatedbetween the shielding electrodes 197 a and 197 b and the commonelectrode, and liquid crystal molecules 31 (see FIG. 3) disposedtherebetween are not arranged. Liquid crystal molecules 31 between theshielding electrodes 197 a and 197 b and the common electrode 270 are ina black state. As such, when the liquid crystal molecules 31 are in ablack state, the liquid crystal molecules 31 themselves may function asa light blocking member.

A first alignment layer 11 may be disposed on the pixel electrode 191.

Next, the upper display panel 200 will be described.

A second substrate 210 that is made of transparent glass or plasticoverlaps the first substrate 110. A light blocking member 220 isdisposed between the second substrate 210 and the liquid crystal layer3. The light blocking member 220 is also called a black matrix andserves to prevent or at least mitigate against light leakage.

Although this specification has described the configuration in which thelight blocking member 220 is disposed in the upper display panel 200, itis not limited thereto, and it may be disposed in the lower displaypanel 100.

An overcoat 250 is disposed between the light blocking member 220 andthe liquid crystal layer 3. The overcoat 250 may be made of an organicinsulating material. The overcoat 250 prevents the light blocking member220 from being exposed and provides a flat surface. According to one ormore embodiments, the overcoat 250 may be omitted.

The common electrode 270 is disposed between the overcoat 250 and theliquid crystal layer 3. The common electrode 270 may include a samematerial as the pixel electrode 191. The common electrode 270 is formedwith a planar shape and receives a common voltage.

A second alignment layer 21 may be disposed between the common electrode270 and the liquid crystal layer 3.

The liquid crystal layer 3 is disposed between the lower display panel100 and the upper display panel 200. The liquid crystal layer 3 hasnegative dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal molecules 31 ofthe liquid crystal layer 3 may be perpendicular to a surface of the twodisplay panels 100 and 200 in the absence of an electric field.Alternatively, the liquid crystal molecules 31 of the liquid crystallayer 3 may be arranged parallel to the surfaces of the two displaypanels 100 and 200 in the absence of an electric field.

The first subpixel electrode 191 a and the second subpixel electrode 191b to which the data voltage is applied generate an electric fieldtogether with the common electrode 270 of the upper display panel 200,to determine an orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 31 in theliquid crystal layer 3. The luminance of light passing through theliquid crystal layer 3 is controlled according to the determinedorientation of the liquid crystal molecules 31.

Hereinafter, a positional relationship between the openings 230 a and230 b of the color filter 230 and the contact holes 185 a and 185 b ofthe passivation layer 180 or a positional relationship between theopenings 230 a and 230 b of the color filter 230 and the contact holes240 a and 240 b of the organic layer 240 will be described withreference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8. FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of apixel according to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 6 illustrates a topplan view of a passivation layer included in one pixel, FIG. 7illustrates atop plan view of a color filter included in one pixel, andFIG. 8 illustrates a top plan view of an organic layer included in onepixel.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a virtual center line VL which extends alongthe direction D2 and crosses a center of one pixel may overlap the firstvertical stem 193 a of the first subpixel electrode 191 a, the secondvertical stem 193 b of the second subpixel electrode 191 b, and thefirst vertical portion 172 a and the second vertical portion 172 b ofthe divided reference voltage line 178.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the passivation layer 180 includesthe first contact hole 185 a overlapping the first drain electrode 175 aand the first subpixel electrode 191 a, and the second contact hole 185b overlapping the second drain electrode 175 b and the second subpixelelectrode 191 b.

The first drain electrode 175 a and the first subpixel electrode 191 amay be connected through the first contact hole 185 a, and the seconddrain electrode 175 b and the second subpixel electrode 191 b may beconnected through the second contact hole 185 b.

The first contact hole 185 a may overlap the first protrusion 137 a ofthe storage electrode line 131, and the second contact hole 185 b mayoverlap the second protrusion 137 b of the storage electrode line 131.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the first contact hole 185 a andthe second contact hole 185 b may be biased to one side of the virtualcenter line VL. Although the present disclosure illustrates theexemplary embodiment in which the first contact hole 185 a and thesecond contact hole 185 b included in one pixel are disposed at a leftside of the virtual center line VL, the first contact hole 185 a and thesecond contact hole 185 b included in another pixel may be disposed at aright side of the virtual center line VL, without being limited thereto.

In one embodiment, when the data line 171 connected to the pixelelectrode 191 disposed at one pixel is disposed at a left side of thepixel electrode 191, the thin film transistor connected to the pixelelectrode 191 may be disposed at the left side of the virtual centerline VL (see FIG. 5). Accordingly, the first contact hole 185 a and thesecond contact hole 185 b through which the pixel electrode 191 and thethin film transistor are connected with each other may be disposed atthe left side of the virtual center line VL.

In contrast, when the data line 171 connected to the pixel electrode 191disposed at one pixel is disposed at a right side of the pixel electrode191, the thin film transistor connected to the pixel electrode 191 maybe disposed at the right side of the virtual center line VL

Accordingly, the first contact hole 185 a and the second contact hole185 b through which the pixel electrode 191 and the thin film transistorare connected with each other may be disposed at the right side of thevirtual center line VL.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the color filter 230 overlappingone pixel includes the first opening 230 a that overlaps a region inwhich the first drain electrode 175 a and the first subpixel electrode191 a are connected. The color filter 230 includes the second opening230 b overlapping a region where the second drain electrode 175 b andthe second subpixel electrode 191 b are connected.

A center of the first opening 230 a and the second opening 230 b of thecolor filter 230 may be disposed on the virtual center line VL. In otherwords, the first opening 230 a and the second opening 230 b of the colorfilter 230 may be disposed on a center line of one pixel (e.g., thefirst opening 230 a and the second opening 230 b of the color filter 230may each be centered about the virtual center line VL).

Each of the first opening 230 a and the second opening 230 b may have asymmetric shape in a plan view with respect to the virtual center lineVL, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the firstopening 230 a and the second opening 230 b may have any suitable shape.

The first opening 230 a may overlap the first drain electrode 175 a andthe first subpixel electrode 191 a. The second opening 230 b may overlapthe second drain electrode 175 b and the second subpixel electrode 191b.

The contact hole 240 a of the organic layer 240 to be described laterand the contact hole 185 a of the passivation layer 180 may be disposedinside the first opening 230 a. The first subpixel electrode 191 a andthe first drain electrode 175 a may be connected through the contacthole disposed inside the first opening 230 a.

In addition, the contact hole 240 b of the organic layer 240 to bedescribed later and the contact hole 185 b of the passivation layer 180may be disposed inside the second opening 230 b. The second subpixelelectrode 191 b and the second drain electrode 175 b may be connectedthrough the contact hole disposed inside the second opening 230 b.

In one or more embodiments, the organic layer 240 illustrated in FIG. 8may have a same shape as the above-mentioned passivation layer 180.

The organic layer 240 includes the third contact hole 240 a thatoverlaps one pixel and is disposed at a region where the first drainelectrode 175 a and the first subpixel electrode 191 a are overlappedwith each other. Further, the organic layer 240 includes the fourthcontact hole 240 b disposed in a region where the second drain electrode175 b overlaps the second subpixel electrode 191 b.

Centers of the third contact hole 240 a and the fourth contact hole 240b of the organic layer 240 may be disposed at one side of the virtualcenter line VL. Although the present disclosure illustrates theexemplary embodiment in which the third contact hole 240 a and thefourth contact hole 240 b included in one pixel are disposed at a leftside of the virtual center line VL, the first contact hole 185 a and thesecond contact hole 185 b included in another pixel may be disposed at aright side of the virtual center line VL, without being limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the data line 171 connected to the pixelelectrode 191 disposed at one pixel is disposed at a left side of thepixel electrode 191, the thin film transistor connected to the pixelelectrode 191 may be disposed at the left side of the virtual centerline VL. The third contact hole 240 a and the fourth contact hole 240 bthrough which the pixel electrode 191 and the thin film transistor areconnected with each other may be disposed at the left side of thevirtual center line VL.

In contrast, when the data line 171 connected to the pixel electrode 191disposed at one pixel is disposed at a right side of the pixel electrode191, the thin film transistor connected to the pixel electrode 191 maybe disposed at the right side of the virtual center line VL. The thirdcontact hole 240 a and the fourth contact hole 240 b through which thepixel electrode 191 and the thin film transistor are connected with eachother may be disposed at the right side of the virtual center line VL.

The third contact hole 240 a may be aligned with an edge of the firstcontact hole 185 a of the passivation layer 180. The third contact hole240 a may overlap the first contact hole 185 a and substantially formone contact hole. The first drain electrode 175 a and the first subpixelelectrode 191 a may be connected through the first contact hole 185 aand the third contact hole 240 a.

The fourth contact hole 240 b may be aligned with an edge of the secondcontact hole 185 b of the passivation layer 180. The fourth contact hole240 b may overlap the second contact hole 185 b and substantially formone contact hole. The second drain electrode 175 b and the secondsubpixel electrode 191 b may be connected through the second contacthole 185 b and the fourth contact hole 240 b.

Hereinafter, one opening included in the color filter 230 and onecontact hole included in the passivation layer 180 will be described.The contact hole included in the passivation layer 180 may be replacedwith a contact hole included in the organic layer 240.

An area of the openings 230 a and 230 b included in the color filter 230may be greater than an area occupied by the contact holes 185 a, 185 b,240 a, and 240 b in a plan view. A length of the openings 230 a and 230b in the horizontal direction (direction D1) may be greater than alength of the contact holes 185 a, 185 b, 240 a, and 240 b in thehorizontal direction. In addition, a length of the openings 230 a and230 b in the vertical direction (direction D2) may greater than a lengthof the contact holes 185 a, 185 b, 240 a, and 240 b in the verticaldirection. In other words, a width of the openings 230 a and 230 b inthe direction D1 may be greater than a width of the contact holes 185 a,185 b, 240 a, and 240 b in the direction D1, and a width of the openings230 a and 230 b in the direction D2 may be greater than a width of thecontact holes 185 a, 185 b, 240 a, and 240 b in the direction D2.

The centers of the openings 230 a and 230 b are disposed on the virtualcenter line VL, and the centers of the contact holes 185 a, 185 b, 240a, and 240 b are not disposed on the virtual center line VL. The centersof the contact holes 185 a, 185 b, 240 a, and 240 b may have a shapethat is biased from the virtual center line VL to one side thereof. Thecenters of the openings 230 a and 230 b and the centers of the contactholes 185 a, 185 b, 240 a, and 240 b may not be aligned with each other,and may be separated from each other in a plan view.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the contact holes of the organiclayer 240 and the passivation layer 180 may be disposed at one side ofthe virtual center line, while the color filter 230 may include theopenings 230 a and 230 b having centers that are disposed on the virtualcenter line, thereby simplifying a mask pattern that is necessary formanufacturing the color filter 230. In addition, it is possible tosimplify a manufacturing process of the color filter 230 disposed in theperipheral area, because the direction of the openings included in thecolor filter 230 is not required to be aligned with the direction inwhich the contact holes are disposed.

This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG.10. FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic top plan view of a peripheral areaand a display area according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 10illustrates a schematic top plan view of a plurality of pixels disposedin a display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the display device 10 may include a display area DAin which one pixel illustrated in FIG. 2 or FIG. 5 is disposed in amatrix form, and a peripheral area PA.

The pixel having the shape illustrated in FIG. 2 or FIG. 5 may bedisposed in the display area DA, and a dummy color filter 230D may bedisposed in the peripheral area PA together with some signal lines (notillustrated) extending from the display area DA.

Some of a plurality of pixels disposed in the display area may includecontact holes each having a center disposed at a left side of thevirtual center line VL for each pixel, and the other pixels may includecontact holes disposed at a right side of the virtual center line VL.

For example, in three pixels disposed near a boundary between thedisplay area DA and the peripheral area PA as illustrated in FIG. 2 orFIG. 5, the data line connected to the pixel electrode may be disposedat a left side of the pixel electrode, and the contact hole may bedisposed at the left side of the virtual center line. In addition, inthe three pixels arranged in the direction D1, the data line connectedto the pixel electrode may be disposed at the right side of the pixelelectrode, and the center of the contact hole may be disposed at theright side of the virtual center line.

Centers of the color filter 230 disposed in the display area DA and theopening of the dummy color filter 230 disposed in the peripheral area PAmay be disposed on the virtual center line. Openings of the color filter230 and the dummy color filter 230D may have a symmetrical shape in aplan view with respect to the virtual center line.

In one embodiment, referring to the pixels illustrated at a top of FIG.10, the pixels disposed within the display area DA may be repeated withrespect to three pixels along the direction D1. The pixels may also berepeated with respect to three pixels along the direction D2. In thiscase, one pixel indicates one pixel illustrated in FIG. 2 or FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 10, one pixel disposed at a first row and a firstcolumn of the display area DA may be connected to the thin filmtransistor connected to the data line 171 disposed at a left side of onepixel electrode, as an example. Similarly, each of the pixel electrodesdisposed in a second row and a first column and a third row and thefirst column may be connected to the thin film transistor connected tothe data line 171 disposed at the right side of the pixel electrode. Astate in which the pixel electrode and the thin film transistor areconnected is shown as a straight line protruding from the data line 171.

In one embodiment, a mask for forming the color filter may be disposedin the peripheral area PA in order to form the dummy color filterdisposed in the peripheral area PA. In this case, when the opening ofthe filter is disposed at one side of the virtual center line, thealignment between the contact hole and the opening of the color filtershould be considered.

As an example, a mask pattern corresponding to 9 columns such as aplurality of pixels illustrated at the bottom of FIG. 10 are disposed inthe peripheral area PA so that the opening of the color filter disposedin the display area DA and the contact hole exposing a portion of thedrain electrode may be arranged at the same position (at a left or rightside of the virtual center line). In this case, since the dummy colorfilter reaches 9 columns, there is a problem that the width occupied bythe peripheral area is increased.

However, according to an exemplary embodiment, the center of the openingof the color filter is disposed on the virtual center line of one pixelacross the display area DA and the peripheral area PA. It is notnecessary to form a relatively large number of dummy color filters 230Das shown in FIG. 9, and it is possible to provide an opening overlappinga region where the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode overlapeach other (a region in which the contact hole is formed) while forminga relatively small number of dummy color filters 230D.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

-   110: first substrate-   121: gate line-   171: data line-   180: passivation layer-   185 a, 185 b, 240 a, 240 b: contact hole-   191: pixel electrode-   230: color filter-   230 a, 230 b: opening-   VL: virtual center line

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a substratecomprising a display area including pixels arranged in a matrix form,and a peripheral area; a gate line and a data line on the substrate, thegate line and the date line insulated from each other; a thin filmtransistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a passivationlayer; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor through acontact hole of the passivation layer, the passivation layer beingbetween the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode; and a colorfilter overlapping the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode,wherein the color filter includes an opening overlapping the contacthole, wherein a center of the opening is on a virtual center line of oneof the pixels, and a center of the contact hole is on one side of thevirtual center line.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein thevirtual center line extends along a direction in which the data lineextends.
 3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the opening of thecolor filter has a symmetrical shape in a plan view with respect to thevirtual center line.
 4. The display device of claim 1, wherein an areaof the contact hole in a plan view is smaller than an area of theopening in a plan view.
 5. The display device of claim 1, wherein awidth of the opening is greater than a width of the contact hole.
 6. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the center of the opening is notaligned with the center of the contact hole.
 7. The display device ofclaim 1, further comprising a storage electrode line disposed at a samelayer as the gate line, wherein the storage electrode line includes aprotrusion overlapping the contact hole in a plan view.
 8. The displaydevice of claim 7, wherein: the storage electrode line includes ahorizontal portion extending parallel to the gate line, and theprotrusion protrudes from the horizontal portion.
 9. The display deviceof claim 7, wherein the protrusion overlaps the opening.
 10. The displaydevice of claim 1, further comprising a shielding electrode at a samelayer as the pixel electrode.
 11. The display device of claim 10,wherein the shielding electrode extends along a direction in which thegate line extends.
 12. A display device comprising: a substratecomprising a display area including pixels, and a peripheral area; agate line and a data line on the substrate, the gate line and the dataline insulated from each other; a thin film transistor connected to thegate line and the data line; an organic layer; a pixel electrodeconnected to the thin film transistor through a contact hole of theorganic layer, the organic layer being between the thin film transistorand the pixel electrode; and a color filter overlapping the thin filmtransistor and the pixel electrode, wherein the color filter includes anopening overlapping the contact hole, and a center of the opening is notaligned with a center of the contact hole.
 13. The display device ofclaim 12, wherein: the center of the opening is on a virtual center lineof one of the pixels, the center of the contact hole is on one side ofthe virtual center line, and the virtual center line extends along adirection in which the data line extends.
 14. The display device ofclaim 12, wherein an area of the contact hole in a plan view is smallerthan an area of the opening in a plan view.
 15. The display device ofclaim 12, wherein the organic layer is between the color filter and thepixel electrode.
 16. The display device of claim 12, further comprisinga dummy color filter in the peripheral area.
 17. The display device ofclaim 12, further comprising a storage electrode line at a same layer asthe gate line, wherein the storage electrode line includes a protrusionoverlapping the contact hole in a plan view.
 18. The display device ofclaim 17, wherein the storage electrode line includes a horizontalportion extending parallel to the gate line, and the protrusionprotrudes from the horizontal portion.
 19. The display device of claim17, wherein the protrusion overlaps the opening.
 20. The display deviceof claim 12, further comprising a shielding electrode at a same layer asthe pixel electrode, wherein the shielding electrode extends along adirection in which the gate line extends.